Subcommittee on International Human Rights Committee on June 15th, 2026

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you very much.

It's very alarming what's happening with particularly the children.

I want to ask my first question of Morgan.

I know that in the past when you were here, you talked about the youth who were being recruited into gangs. In your opening remarks, you basically referred to them as child soldiers. I wanted to make that connection, because when we listen to the security situation and some of the geopolitics around Haiti, we're not seeing those children, and they are children.

Maybe I could ask Morgan to comment on that, but I'd also like to hear from Geeta Narayan.

[Morgan Wienberg]

With Little Footprints Big Steps, we work with street children in particular, and what we're seeing is that a lot of street children are being forcibly recruited into armed gangs. Although it is dangerous, we have also worked with children who have escaped those gangs. These are young children being given guns and told where to go and what to do. This is extremely traumatizing for children and also for the future of the country. It is possible, as UNICEF shared, to reintegrate those children into their communities. However, I believe prevention is also critically important.

We're focusing on getting those children out of the streets and back to their families, but the level of vulnerability of families is ultimately what sends children to the streets. It all comes down to helping families survive.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you.

Ms. Narayan, the work you're doing on the ground is incredible. I know that people who are doing this work, particularly with the UN, are doing a tremendous service, so I want to thank you for that.

Could you also talk about the recruitment of the children into gangs?

[Geeta Narayan]

Yes, absolutely.

We saw, as I mentioned, a 200% increase in just one year. One of the sad stories—because we have reintegrated 600 children in the last two years, as I mentioned—is that there's a tremendous stigma associated with these children associated with the armed groups. Society generally doesn't see them as victims, first and foremost, yet they are. Even with a child who joins “voluntarily”, that's not really a choice they're making. They have been forced into joining an armed group to protect their family or for economic reasons, coming back to the earlier question from the other honourable member.

We have to recognize that there is societal stigma we have to overcome in order to ensure these children are fully reintegrated and can become productive members of Haitian society again.

[Anita Vandenbeld, Liberal, Ottawa West—Nepean, ON]

Thank you.

I'll share my time with Mr. Zuberi.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Thanks.

I'll continue with you, Ms. Narayan.

If I heard you correctly, in your opening, you mentioned that Canada is supporting some of your projects with $32 million. Is that right?

[Geeta Narayan]

Historically, yes.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

Can you describe that project in a bit more detail?

[Geeta Narayan]

Canada has provided funding to UNICEF in Haiti to support health, malnutrition, cholera and now child protection. The current project, which is $8 million Canadian, is the PREJEUNES program. It specifically targets children who are vulnerable to recruitment and the children already in armed groups whom we want to support to exit and to reintegrate back into their families and communities.

It's a new project. It was signed two months ago, and it's a three-year project of $8 million. We anticipate that it will lead to hundreds of children exiting the groups and being reintegrated, and thousands being prevented from joining in the first place.

[Sameer Zuberi, Liberal, Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC]

With respect to the tangible impacts of these programs, what have you seen so far? Can you describe them? You did a bit already, but can you go into that a bit more on these and other programs?

[Geeta Narayan]

Sure.

It's concrete. I have seen children in an internally displaced site being screened for malnutrition. If a child is malnourished, they receive immediate therapeutic food, which is provided by funding from the Government of Canada. It is instant. That child would not receive that therapeutic food or even been screened if not for this support. We have mobile clinics that go from camp to camp to provide health and nutrition services, such as the malnutrition screening.

When it comes to child protection, children who escape the armed groups have gone through so much trauma. They are damaged. The support that we provide, again with Canadian funding, allows these children to laugh again and have hope, to have access to learning and to eventually be reunited with their families.

[The Chair, Liberal, Fayçal El-Khoury]

Thank you, Mr. Zuberi.

Now I will invite Mr. Majumdar to take the floor for five minutes.

[Shuv Majumdar, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

I'm going to offer it to my colleague Ms. Kronis. She'll take the first question.

[Tamara Kronis, Conservative, Nanaimo—Ladysmith, BC]

You should continue. I want to do Cuba.

[Shuv Majumdar, Conservative, Calgary Heritage, AB]

Okay.

Fred, it's over to you.

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Ms. Davidson or Ms. Narayan, the statistics are staggering. It's estimated that 90% of Port-au-Prince is under gang control. The answer can't be simple, but where do we go from here? If 90% of Port-au-Prince is controlled by gangs, how can this ever be resolved? What are the top three things that you would suggest need to happen for the resolution?

[Geeta Narayan]

We have an opportunity right now, because the gang suppression force, of which Canada is one of the contributing states, is now taking shape in Port-au-Prince. About 750 to 800 Chadian troops have arrived, and they will begin operations shortly, along with other troops.

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

I'm sorry to interrupt, but you said there are Chadian troops. Are there multinational interventions happening on the ground?

[Geeta Narayan]

Yes. At the moment, the largest number of troops is from Chad. That's the largest contingent.

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Are there any other countries contributing resources?

[Geeta Narayan]

I believe that Guatemala is contributing. I believe that Sri Lanka may also be contributing. It changes. I don't have the exact names of the countries, but Chad is on the ground right now.

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Are they making any progress?

[Geeta Narayan]

They have started operations in a low-key way with the Haitian National Police, and I think that's what needs to happen—the gang suppression force needs to be given the opportunity to function. They need the resources and the manpower. They need to be able to function, but to function in a way that is in line with international child protection standards. We know that children make up 30% to 50% of the armed groups. If you think about the military operations, children are on the front lines and face a high risk of being casualties.

First, though, we need to re-establish security through the gang suppression force. That's the first thing.

The second thing is, what's next? In the areas that are “liberated” by the GSF, what happens? We need to ensure that support is coming into those areas. People need to see that there's an alternative to living under the control of the armed groups. Systems need to be put in place. Schools have to open. Water has to be provided. Hospitals have to be functional. That's where the UN and other partners come in. That's the second thing.

The third thing is reconciliation. Haiti is a divided, fragmented country right now after years of conflict by the armed groups. How do you heal a country? How do you make them come together? Honestly, the World Cup at the moment is helping a lot, because Haiti, as you know, is in the World Cup for the first time in 53 years. This is what is needed. We need to bring the country together and go forward towards elections as soon as possible.

[Fred Davies, Conservative, Niagara South, ON]

Is there any movement at the senior governmental levels to recognize that change has to take place, or are the elites still effectively in control?

[Geeta Narayan]

It's both. I think the elites are still effectively in control. However, the Prime Minister and other members of cabinet are very committed to holding elections as soon as conditions allow. This year is unlikely. That's my personal view, given the current situation. Again, the gang suppression force has to stabilize in order for elections to take place. There is a commitment to holding the elections as soon as possible.